5 Career Strategies for the New Year

It’s one of the most common New Year’s resolutions: improve your career prospects. But that's no easy task in a job market this tough. Indeed, the number of open roles is nearly 10% lower than it was at the start of 2025 and 40% lower than it was in 2022. 

Still, experts say that lower number doesn’t mean you have to be professionally stagnant. Indeed, many organizations are leaning into moving people around organizations. Plus, there are many things individuals can do that can help their prospects now and down the line. “An inspired person can find lots of opportunities,” says Val Olson Armstrong, a Korn Ferry associate principal and leadership coach. 

Here are five ideas:

Focus on internal mobility and visibility. 

The job market isn’t great right now. For a variety of reasons, many companies are hesitant to add headcount. Even when there is hiring, it’s often done at a pace that can seem maddeningly slow.  

It’s why experts say that people looking to expand their professional horizons should be looking within their own organization for additional opportunities. Talk to managers and HR leaders about your career-development goals and how best to reach them. Volunteer for cross-functional assignments or obtain a certification or credential in a new skill related to the area you want to pursue. Make an extra effort in your existing role, too. Managers aren’t interested in hiring underperformers, even internal ones.  

Build out your network. 

Networking takes time and dedication, so don’t wait until you are actively job searching to build and nurture professional relationships. Tapping into your network now can help you gain a fresh perspective on your current role, find additional help to overcome a work challenge, or help a colleague. 

When you are looking for a new job, networking likely will improve your chances of finding a role you want. Most jobs aren’t landed through online applications, they’re found through people. In survey after survey, more than half, and as many as 85%, of jobs are filled via networking. 

Establish some routines.  

Create some systems that will provide you with a repeatable structure for development, says Olson Armstrong. Those can include learning goals, a quarterly skills audit, or even creating a “board of advisors” you can run your professional aspirations by. 

The ultimate goal of these routines is to help you stay focused and balanced. At work, for instance, add calendar blocks for certain tasks and assignments (including things like “lunch” or “thinking time”). This helps you schedule your priorities rather than prioritizing your schedule, says Michaela Buttler, a Korn Ferry associate principal. 

Prioritize “human” skills. 

According to a recent report from MIT, AI can now handle about 12% of all skills. That might sound like a lot, but it really means AI is likely not going to take all the jobs, or even a majority of them, any time soon. Yes, learning how to use AI is important, but experts recommend that people hone the skills that aren’t easily routinized, such as analytical thinking, creative thinking, emotional intelligence, and communication. “A person’s professional contribution is not the sum total of tech skills they can demonstrate,” says Bryan Ackerman, Korn Ferry’s head of AI Strategy and Transformation.  

Embrace the pause. 

Great leaders will take an intentional pause to reflect and deliberate before making big decisions. That slowing down provides a chance to think more strategically and tune out distractions. There’s no reason you can’t do that when it comes to thinking about your professional career. “Take time during your day to stop and reflect to understand your patterns, triggers, and impact on others,” Olson Armstrong says. 

Learn more about Korn Ferry’s Leadership and Professional Development capabilities.

Read more This Week in Leadership articles